Kemper vs. The General: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Kemper offers slightly cheaper rates than The General
• Kemper offers less expensive average prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy
• The General tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in the suburbs

Kemper or The General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Kemper or The General as potential options, but between the two, which one has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, The General is around $6 more a month than Kemper.

But Kemper may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Kemper and The General by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Kemper vs. The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and The General only compete against each other in two states, with Kemper offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Kemper prices are $45 cheaper than insurance rates at The General.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies calculate your premiums. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. That's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 10% less per month by choosing The General over Kemper.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Kemper policyholders reduce over 55% and The General's prices decrease more than 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Kemper and The General? Kemper gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $16 more affordable than the national average for The General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something several auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for car insurance, Kemper tends to have the cheapest average premiums regardless of marital status, with prices about $6 cheaper for married drivers and around $7 less expensive for those who are single.

Kemper or The General: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to offer women more affordable prices.

Normally, men see rates about $20 a month higher with Kemper, and around $30 with The General.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Kemper comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $13 per month and women save about $0 with Kemper compared to the average The General policyholder.

Kemper vs. The General: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Kemper has the edge, while The General offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Kemper, while full coverage comes out to be around $2 more affordable with The General.

Is Kemper or The General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- Kemper or The General -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Kemper for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. The General policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 20%.

However, Kemper has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $18 and $21 cheaper, respectively, compared to The General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through The General will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Kemper end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $259 compared to The General's $279.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while The General will usually raise prices by around 24%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, The General tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $254 to Kemper's $287.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and The General Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Kemper or The General Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly premiums? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much The General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Kemper, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Kemper is the more affordable company.

Kemper or The General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Kemper boasts the lowest average prices in rural and urban areas, while The General wins in suburban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $182 a month with Kemper and $189 with The General. People in suburban areas pay around $225 with The General compared to Kemper's $226 monthly. In urban areas, Kemper's average rates are about $296 a month compared to The General's $310.

Kemper vs. The General Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Kemper and The General so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Kemper knocks The General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than The General.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, The General has a few proprietary discounts of their own like liability only discounts and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or The General Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Kemper or The General the best company for you and your specific needs?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• Your credit score is high.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

The General might be best for you if...

• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Kemper and The General. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Kemper and The General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Kemper vs. The General FAQs

Is Kemper or The General cheaper?

Kemper is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $235 per month with Kemper and $241 for The General. Even so, that doesn't mean Kemper will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Kemper or The General?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Kemper is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while The General offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Kemper and The General offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables like age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Kemper and The General use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Kemper or The General is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Kemper or The General at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.